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Security Researcher Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

Henry Ford Health

Leader - Security

Detroit, MI

Whether you're caring for patients, supporting operations, conducting research, or driving new ... Security Location: St John Schedule: Full-Time (40 Hours/Week), Every other weekend and holiday ...

Corning

$53.25 - $69.50/hr

Role Purpose As a Sr. Network Security Engineer , you will provide hands-on network security ... You will support primarily manufacturing environments, researching and resolving customer network ...

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How much do security researcher jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 31, 2026, the average hourly pay for security researcher in Michigan is $44.84, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $43.37 and $46.30 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a security researcher?

A security researcher keeps up-to-date on all the latest developments in threats to computer software and networks. These threats include different types of malware, such as computer viruses, malicious software and scripts, and direct attacks on a network. The main duties of a security researcher are to investigate existing types of malware, analyze their capabilities, and attempt to predict new forms of malware to develop appropriate security responses. They may reverse engineer malware or test security systems.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a security researcher, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Security Researcher, you need deep expertise in computer science, networking, vulnerability assessment, and malware analysis, often supported by a degree in cybersecurity or related fields. Familiarity with tools like IDA Pro, Wireshark, Metasploit, and certifications such as OSCP or CEH is highly valued. Analytical thinking, curiosity, and strong written and verbal communication help distinguish top performers in this role. These skills are crucial for identifying emerging threats, effectively communicating risks, and developing solutions to protect organizations' digital assets.

What are some common challenges security researchers face when collaborating with development teams?

Security Researchers often encounter challenges when working with development teams, such as communicating complex vulnerabilities in a way that is actionable for developers and aligning on remediation priorities. Bridging the gap between security findings and practical implementation requires clear documentation and a collaborative mindset. Additionally, researchers must balance thorough testing with minimal disruption to production environments, ensuring security improvements integrate smoothly into development cycles.

What is the difference between Security Researcher vs Security Analyst?

AspectSecurity ResearcherSecurity Analyst
CredentialsCertifications like CISSP, CEH, OSCPCertifications like CompTIA Security+, CISSP, GIAC
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, cybersecurity firms, R&D teamsSecurity operations centers, corporate IT teams
Employer & IndustryTech companies, cybersecurity firms, government agenciesFinancial institutions, healthcare, enterprise companies
Primary FocusIdentifying vulnerabilities, developing exploits, analyzing threatsMonitoring security systems, incident response, implementing security measures

While both roles focus on cybersecurity, Security Researchers primarily analyze vulnerabilities and develop exploits to understand threats better. Security Analysts focus on monitoring, detecting, and responding to security incidents within organizations. Both roles often require similar certifications and work in related environments, but their core responsibilities differ in scope and daily tasks.

What do you need to be a security researcher?

A security researcher typically needs a strong understanding of cybersecurity principles, programming skills, and knowledge of networks and systems. Relevant certifications like CISSP or CEH can enhance credibility, and familiarity with tools such as Wireshark or penetration testing frameworks is beneficial. A bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, or a related field is often required, along with analytical and problem-solving skills.
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Security Researcher jobs near you
Infographic showing various Security Researcher job openings in Michigan as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 80% Full Time, 18% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $93,260 per year, or $44.8 per hour.

Cyber Red Team Researcher

Ford Motor Company

Allen Park, MI • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, PTO

Posted 5 days ago

Ford Motor Company rating

7.6

Company rating: 7.6 out of 10

Based on 526 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

12th of 45 rated automakers

Job description


We are the movers of the world and the makers of the future. We get up every day, roll up our sleeves and build a better world -- together. At Ford, we're all a part of something bigger than ourselves. Are you ready to change the way the world moves?
Enterprise Technology plays a critical part in shaping the future of mobility. If you're looking for the chance to leverage advanced technology to redefine the transportation landscape, enhance the customer experience and improve people's lives, this is the opportunity for you. Join us and challenge your IT expertise and analytical skills to help create vehicles that are as smart as you are.
Ford's Red Team operates as a highly technical offensive security team focused on identifying, demonstrating, and helping reduce meaningful risk across the enterprise. Our work spans traditional adversary simulation, application and infrastructure testing, social engineering, attack development, custom tooling, and emerging technologies.
We are looking for a senior offensive security professional who combines deep technical capability with curiosity, initiative, and a strong bias toward action. This is a hands-on role for someone who enjoys solving difficult problems, building tools when existing solutions are not enough, and operating effectively in environments where the path forward may not already be defined.
Our team is also increasingly AI-native. We use custom autonomous agents and AI-enabled workflows to expand the speed, scale, and depth of our offensive operations. We do not view AI as a replacement for skilled operators; we view it as a force multiplier for people who already understand how attackers think. The ideal candidate will bring strong offensive fundamentals and be excited to help shape how AI, automation, and agentic systems are applied to real-world security problems.
Just as importantly, this person should make the team better. We value people who share knowledge, collaborate freely, challenge ideas constructively, and bring energy to the work. The strongest candidates will be technically excellent, highly self-directed, and motivated by building, experimenting, and delivering results
Responsibilities
What you'll do...
  • Lead and execute complex Red Team engagements that simulate realistic adversary behavior across applications, infrastructure, cloud, identity, and enterprise environments.
  • Operate effectively in ambiguous environments, proactively identifying opportunities and moving from idea to execution with limited direction.
  • Identify and exploit vulnerabilities, attack paths, trust relationships, and control weaknesses to demonstrate meaningful business risk.
  • Develop custom offensive tooling, automation, and capabilities when existing tools are insufficient for the mission.
  • Apply AI and agentic systems as a force multiplier for offensive operations, including research, attack development, reconnaissance, analysis, and workflow automation.
  • Design, build, and improve autonomous or semi-autonomous offensive workflows that increase the speed, scale, and consistency of Red Team operations.
  • Research emerging attack techniques, technologies, and adversary behaviors, and translate that research into practical offensive capabilities.
  • Collaborate closely with other Red Team members, defenders, engineers, and security partners to communicate findings and drive meaningful improvements.
  • Mentor and share knowledge with other team members through technical collaboration, code review, tooling development, and engagement support.
  • Clearly communicate complex technical findings, attack narratives, and risk to both technical and leadership audiences.
  • Continuously challenge existing approaches, experiment with new techniques, and help evolve how the Red Team operates.

Qualifications
You'll have...
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Security, Cybersecurity, or a related field, OR a combination of education and professional experience in offensive security.
  • 5+ years of hands-on experience in Red Team operations, penetration testing, adversary simulation, security research, or other offensive security disciplines.
    • Strong understanding of common attack techniques, attacker tradecraft, exploitation methodologies, and modern enterprise attack surfaces.
    • Hands-on experience with offensive security tooling and frameworks such as Kali Linux, Burp Suite, Metasploit, Nmap, command-and-control frameworks, and other penetration testing or adversary simulation tools.
    • Strong scripting or software development skills in one or more languages such as Python, Go, JavaScript, PowerShell, C#, or similar languages used for offensive tooling and automation.
    • Demonstrated ability to independently investigate complex technical problems, develop attack paths, and move from concept to execution with limited direction.
    • Ability to succeed in a highly dynamic and unstructured environment while balancing multiple technical priorities.
    • Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and creative problem-solving skills.
    • Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with teammates and partners across a wide range of technical backgrounds and experience levels.
    • Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to clearly explain complex attack scenarios and technical risk.

Even better, you may have...
  • Experience developing custom offensive security tooling, frameworks, payloads, automation, or attack infrastructure.
  • Experience applying large language models, AI-assisted development, automation, or agentic systems to technical workflows.
  • Experience designing or integrating autonomous or semi-autonomous workflows, agents, or orchestration frameworks.
  • Experience conducting social engineering, identity-based attacks, cloud exploitation, application security testing, or adversary simulation in large enterprise environments.
  • Experience mentoring other security professionals or providing technical leadership during complex offensive engagements.
  • Demonstrated curiosity and enthusiasm for emerging technologies, offensive research, and experimentation.

You may not check every box, or your experience may look a little different from what we've outlined, but if you think you can bring value to Ford Motor Company, we encourage you to apply!
As an established global company, we offer the benefit of choice. You can choose what your Ford future will look like: will your story span the globe, or keep you close to home? Will your career be a deep dive into what you love, or a series of new teams and new skills? Will you be a leader, a changemaker, a technical expert, a culture builder...or all of the above? No matter what you choose, we offer a work life that works for you, including:
  • Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage
  • Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up child care and more
  • Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more
  • Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases
  • Tuition assistance
  • Established and active employee resource groups
  • Paid time off for individual and team community service
  • A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year's Day
  • Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.

For a detailed look at our benefits, click here: https://fordcareers.co/GSR
*Note: This is a hybrid role, you are expected to relocate if you are not within commutable distance, and responsible to be on site 4 days a week
This position is a range of salary grade(s) 7-8 | $99,600 - $192,900
Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
Candidates for positions with Ford Motor Company must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to a culturally diverse workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status or protected veteran status. In the United States, if you need a reasonable accommodation for the online application process due to a disability, please call 1-888-336-0660.
#LI-Hybrid
#LI-AH1

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